UH declines to interview ex-Baylor coach Art Briles for vacancy

School confirms stance following reports ex-Baylor coach on radar

Art Briles, who led UH's football team from 2003-07, will not be returning for a second stint on Cullen Boulevard after the university declined to interview the embattled former Baylor coach for its vacancy.

Art Briles, who led UH's football team from 2003-07, will not be...

Former Baylor football coach Art Briles will not interview for the University of Houston head-coaching vacancy, the school said in a statement Saturday.

In an unusual move prompted by reports that Briles was set to interview, UH vice president for intercollegiate athletics Hunter Yurachek issued a 50-word statement saying Briles expressed interest in the job but is not on the list of candidates to be interviewed.

"Earlier this week Art Briles expressed interest to me regarding the Houston head coach position," Yurachek said in the statement. "After discussion with University of Houston leadership, we developed a list of candidates to be interviewed that did not include Art. At this time, we will have no further comment on potential candidates or timeline."

Later on Twitter, Yurachek posted: "I want to be clear that University leadership was unanimous regarding this decision."

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Earlier Saturday, ESPN reported Briles, who was fired in May for his role in mishandling a widespread sexual assault scandal that included several Baylor players, was set to interview. Shortly after, a source told the Chronicle that Briles - who made four bowl appearances in five seasons as coach at UH from 2003-07 - was "unlikely" to get an interview.

Just the mention of Briles as a potential candidate set off a public backlash. In addition, ESPN reported that UH president Renu Khator and Yurachek overruled board of regents chairman Tilman Fertitta's interest to interview Briles. Last week, Fertitta told the Chronicle he had not "received one negative call" about Briles but that there "still seems to be a clarity issue" over his role in the Baylor scandal.

One UH target is off the board, with West Virginia's Dana Holgorsen, a former offensive coordinator quarterbacks coach at UH, agreeing to a five-year contract extension, according to the multiple reports.

Interim head coach/defensive coordinator Todd Orlando and offensive coordinator Major Applewhite will interview for the job, and former LSU coach Les Miles also is on the list of possible candidates, the school acknowledged last week. UH is believed to have interest in Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. Kiffin also is considered the top choice to become offensive coordinator on Ed Orgeron's staff at LSU.

UH is searching for a head coach for the second time in less than three years following the departure of Tom Herman, who left Nov. 26 to take the job at Texas.